Elegance

Elegance at Casino Square. Woof!

Long Legs ...

Christmas trees laden with snow alongside palm trees and pretty girls with legs that go on forever ... that's Monte Carlo.

Red Tulips

Red tulips in front of the casino.

Happy Valentines - Coo like the pigeons!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Go on ... coo like the pigeons!

Cigarette break ...

Cigarette break in Casino Square.

Lunch on a Bench

The casino gardens, lunch on a bench and a chat with friends before going back to work.  Not a bad way to spend your lunch break.

The dark green area in the background is part of the enormous fence that blocks off the centre of the gardens whilst construction goes on for the new shopping centre.  Oh dear ...

Garden Crane

The joys of Monaco - massive cranes in the Casino Gardens.

Vineyard in Sky Mirror

The vineyard planted in the garden in front of the casino is reflected in 'sky mirror.'  You can see the Casino building top centre.  The Cafe de Paris is to the right - everything is the wrong way around of course! In reality, the Cafe de Paris is off to the left ...

The Casino Vineyard

The small round garden in front of the casino is happily untouched by the renovations in the upper gardens.  In fact, it has been transformed into an ephemeral vineyard!  Right down to the traditional rose bush at the end of each row.

This is to mark the 150th anniversary of SBM (Societe des Bains de Mer).  In fact, you can now order a Bordeaux Grand Cru by the glass in any of the SBM hotels, restaurants or casinos.  There is a choice of 150 different wines.  This started on June 22nd and continues for 150 days.

Progress at Casino Square! - the Silk Floss Tree and the Digger

The scoop of a digger seen though the beauty of a Silk Floss Tree as the destruction of the Casino gardens continues.  The Latin name of this gorgeous tree is Ceiba specioso - it's the same family as the Baobab tree.

Let's hope it survives ...

Progress at Casino Square! - the Winter Sporting

This is the Art Deco Winter Sporting - the building that is to be replaced.

Progress at Casino Square! - the Palms

It would appear (one hopes!) that the trees and palms are to be saved.

At the moment, the machines are being used to dig around the massive palms and beautiful trees.  Presumably they will  be left in place or will be lifted and hopefully replaced when the building work is finished.  Who knows? Doubtless we'll eventually know the answer ...

This photo shows the Café de Paris and the Casino.

Progress at Casino Square!

This is called progress!  The casino gardens are being dug up and the building you see to the right - the Winter Sporting (a beautiful Art Deco building) - will be knocked down in favour of a massive shopping complex. The building in the centre is the Hotel de Paris and you can just see a corner of the Casino to the left.

More tomorrow ...

Tattoos in the Casino Gardens

Not a Monte Carlo lady today but a visiting English couple showing off their tattoos.

Tatoos always fascinate me - body art - and I often wonder what I'd have done if I were brave enough to stand the pain.  But I'm not ...

Stylish

Stylish - walking past the Casino Gardens.

Monte Carlo Dogs

Not all Monte Carlo ladies strut around in 6 inch heels. Some, like these two ladies,  are more interested in their dogs and were taking a rest with them on a bench in the Casino Gardens.  Note the water bowl.

The Griffon is called Xena and she is 4 years old. And the Jack Russell terrier is called Lana and she is 3.

Both are rescue dogs now living a wonderful life in Monaco with these two fabulous Monte Carlo ladies.

'There be dragons ...' in the Casino Gardens

'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.'

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

A Fringe of Green

One of the many beautiful trees in the Casino Gardens.

A Monte Carlo Christmas - the Palm Trees

Even the palm trees are dressed up for Christmas ...

Reni

On the night the casino was lit up pink, I met Reni in the Casino Gardens. She wears wonderfully original clothes - and is obviously a character.  She immediately went into 'pose mode' when I asked to take her photo.Thanks Reni!